The 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 is not a grocery-getter or a Hollywood Boulevard cruiser -- save those runs for the Cayenne on 22s. If confined to L.A.'s rough pieces of pavement, the GT3 fast becomes a royal pain in the glutes and kidneys. It isn't fun when perusing boring urban blocks. It isn't comfortable when entering parking lots with the slightest of curbs, even with the available front axle lift bringing the nose up nearly 1.2-inches. Those things are better accomplished while looking stylish in your 911, Boxster, or even, 911 Turbo.

Below 4000 rpms it's taxing to shift the extra-stiff clutch with its bicep-building lever. Keep at it long enough and you'll have a right arm toned better than Arnold's. PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) in its standard mode transmits each road imperfection with teeth chattering effect. Don't even think about switching it into "Sports Mode" when out in the real world -- all the jouncing is a recipe for a headache. The car lives at the limits of civility, barely streetable in between track sessions or secluded back road runs.

This is a German thoroughbred born of countless race wins. It abhors trotting and can't stand being pent up. It wants to run and loves being pushed.

We mentioned it was "organic." In other words, it features no turbo or supercharger additives to motivate it to abnormally high speeds. It can be specified with little to no interior comforts. In Europe, a roll cage and fire extinguisher are optional. Stick some numbers on the doors, let it loose on a track, and you'll likely end up on the podium.

It's the purest 911 money can buy. And that's the whole point behind it.Are there faster cars for less money? Sure. The ZR1 and the GT-R are just as fast in most situations. Heck, the 911 Turbo can poop on the GT3 in the straightline and it isn't that much more expensive.The thing about the GT3 is that it is so pure. There is no forced air induction, it's Rear Engined, RWD... It's just... It's just pure orgasmic driving.

@eboy,The first GTR rolled off the line in 1969, and it was the first production car (R33) to lap the nurburgring under 8 mins. Nissan have been involved in FIA GT and Le mans in various cars over the last 20 years. Porsche, yes your right, a "sport car" brand, but owned by Volkswagen? The same guys who built the Passat? Did you know Lamborghini built tractors before it built the Countach?Time will tell if Nissan makes the racing "heritage" books, and I don't want to bet on your prediction.

I like how the 911 being Rear-engined is suppose to be a positive, like it hasn't hampered it's progress all these years. They have to hold back on the Boxster just because of it's superior layout. Not saying the 911s aren't great cars, just that they could be so much better if they went to mid engine.

GT3, GT-R, ZR-1...I say take your pick you can't go wrong! Plus choose any of these and you get a car designed for REAL enthusiasts at prices that are reasonable and justifiable considering the engineering that goes into them;...unlike the overpriced, rolling erectile disfunction compensators/Valet Queens that come out of Modena and Sant'Agata.If you live in SoCal you know the score...Sunset is crawling with Ferrari's and Lamborghini's...the GT3 drivers are all up on Angels Crest or Mullholland Highway. That about sums up the difference.

I laugh at how "good ol' boys" who only drive Detroit metal come out of the woodwork and say things like "the Vette with its 7 trillion cubic inch, 'merican as apple pie' supercharged, 630 gazillion hp with enough torque to pull a seqeuoia tree from its roots will put a whoopin on that Neeezan twin-rice-charged jap-o-neez bucket of nuts and bolts, and as for that overpriced volkswagen beetle, it ain't got no chance with that 6 cylinder air cooled nazi engine hangin' in the rear.the Vette ZR-1 will make these 2 eat the tire shreddins off the mickey thompson drag slicks on the rear of the Vette!! U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A!!!" ROFL

Comparing the GT3 to the GTR is like comparing apples to oranges.The GT3 is a pure engineering and mechanical feat. Porsche used absolutely zero nanny-electronics and zero technological control to obtain the performance with the GT3. Power comes from an NA inline 6. Traction comes from the engine being in the rear. Steering feel comes from the space and lightness up front. Handling is pure mechanical grip, with a lightweight chasis, RWD, and sticky tires. Aerodynamics comes from the classic aerodynamic Porsche shape. And gear changes is the classic 6 speed manual, no PDK or dual-clutch steering-wheel shifted automanual here.The GTR is the exact opposite in every way.

alright alright@05lgt1980: The [GT3] is a track car for the road, while a real track car, would be the ones found in actual races- of which, both the corvette and porsche perform wonderfully. It is in the transition to turn a track-only car into a track car for the road that others failed to inscribed their wonderfully engineering touches, those of which that cannot be translated into money, but still concern, let's say the quality of the seats, sound of the engine, purity, execution, etc. funny, corvette gets their head out their butts and suddenly they are, always have been, and undeniably will always be champions. I'm sorry is that not stubbornness??

^^ Well, why don't we slap on a twin turbo to the GT3 and see what happens, shall we?I can't believe all this garbage about the GT-R and ZR1. Sure, they're great, respectable, and very fast cars.But none can match the purity of the GT3. It's not about badges or being snotty, it's just the truth. The GT3 is a beast unlike any other, a wild stallion that requires a skilled rider to unleash it's potential. Can't say that for the GT-R.

I love this car. I would take this over any of its cheaper competition. Forget about the name/prestige/street cred or whatever other intangible benefits the GT3 may have over others. This car takes the cake for me because of its sublime balance/feel at 10/10ths and superior driver involvement. The ZR1 holds a little more grip, but is nervous at that level, and interior quality isn't what it should be for a $100k car. The GTR with all of its electronic safety nets and double-clutch tranny practically drives itself without much driver involvement. I'd rather have more fun with my lap time being a few tenths slower than have less fun with a faster lap time.

@lostchildrenSorry, but the Porsche badge won't make it faster around a track. It has things the GTR doesn't but the GTR would still out gun it by a substantial amount. Regardless, the GT3 is an entirely different experience and serves a different purpose.

notice the tires are semi-slick. How long will they last? 5k miles? The GTR has streetable tires and still hangs with cars costing 3x as much. The GT3 is their race car that's got a bit of an interior with some options to make it a road car. The GTR is not a race car. But it's performance is almost spot on this GT3. Give the GTR some semi-slick tires and let it weigh 3500lbs and watch how fast it is.

@ 05lgt1980There are many more factors in a 0-60 time than just the power to weight ratio. You have to consider also the gear ratios, the redline, the power band width, and other factors like Porsche's active engine mounts. One other thing, your grammar is atrocious. Please learn how to spell. Thank you!

Brillaint? How so? They build a car that can't even beat cars that cost thousands less on the track!this cars main focus is the track so please tell me whats so brilliant about that! not only can the zr1 it on the track it has a much better ride more power the only thing its lacking in interoir quality and that doesn't matter since you can only drive the Porsche on the track unless you like torcher. Badge snob's like you annoy me you can't look past the name and see the simple yet effective execution of the Corvette Zr1! Also you might want to check all Mags that compare the corvette and Porsche all the time I guess they are hillbilly to.

is and will always be one of my favorite cars. and to all comparing it to a gtr, stop please, they are completely different in their styles. this is an more of a, dare i say, manlier car. the driver has to work to make this car go fast, and i can respect that. i don't care if the gtr is fast, i think this car is just so pure, and the transmission is stout too. just adding to the fire. lol

^ or rather lack thereof. People in europe and high-end american cities don't notice porsches. They notice the little guy thinking he's the new, cool, kid in town. Either way i get your point- and I agree with you. Prestige -in this case in the european sense- is worth something the Asians havent got yet mustered -tho trust me, follow this path and they will.I must be out of touch tho. Cuz, i hear these ZR1 vs porsche comparos and just can't help but get annoyed by these hillbilly comments crap. Oh, just so stubborn and closed-minded; its impossible to show someone brilliant engineering, when they refuse to see it...sad... and freakin annoying.

@ horses and lionsI'm well aware of Skyline GT-R's racing heritage. I used to be into JDM cars as a teen and up to my mid 20s. No longer though. I owned an EG Civic hatch with H22A swap; but the import scene is immature, already ghetto, and idiots are street racing and kill innocent bystanders. I'm impressed in how Nissan gets a 3800lb car to do 11's with only 485hp; most other cars with those numbers will turn a high 12 at best. I know the legacy of the R32,33,34 and now R35. But let me tell you something about both these cars.If you go to an expensive restaurant in Beverly Hills, NY city, Paris or London in the Porsche, people will turn their heads and recognize it; with the Nissan people won't.It doesn't have that "oohhh" factor,and that's called PRESTIGE.

The as-tested price of $131 large is a bit much to swallow, but the pedigree of the car shows in every way. Yes, I'd rather have other cars that cost less than this gorgeous bit of GT3 (Lotus Elise/Exige, FD3S with a 20B turbo transplant [I am a rotary fanboy, after all], Corvette Z06 or ZR1 et al.), but I still love these Porsches all the same.

Does anyone else think its weird that the gt3 weighs the same has the same power and alot less tq then the corvette Grand sport yet is .4 faster 0-60 and .4 in the 1/4 mile? I understand it has better grip off the line because the engine is out back, but these times seem pretty fast for a car with the same power to weight ratio and no pdk to help the shift faster. either porsche is underated the power or M.T has the fastest shifting testers in the world. All in all a great pure breed car! but much better more livable faster and better handling options are out there Zr1 will chew this up and spit it out amung others.

This seems like its going to be a beast that you need to tame every single day. How exciting, unlike the GTR which comes with all the nannies someone can only find in a videogame the porsche stays true to its roots. GTRs in my opinion overpriced pigs.

@mist3rhaOne can even make the argument that the GTR should not be compared to the GT3 since the GTR is in its 3rd year now and the GT3 is all new:) Just being difficult. I see your point, but comparisons have always been made btwn NA & FI engines. I think you bring about a good point though, here Porsche is using a NA 3.8l and the GTR TTs an engine of the same displacement for almost identical performance. I give the nod to the GT3 here for that and other reasons.I care not for the Zr1 and will leave it to those who are in that world to comment.BTW, if you watch the video @ 1:10 pause there for a while and the GTR is right there in the video as well.

I agree with horsesrule. eboy- the GTR aka Skyline has a heritage of beating the Porsche 911 on the track, but the American version GTR can do just the same at much less. The GTR is also a much easier ride and much more comfortable. I would take a ZR1 and a GTR over the Porsche any day. There is a Porsche/ Audi dealer right next door to my office, and I have test driven a few, and though they are impressive, it's not worth the money.

@eboyThat is the exact reaction I wanted and I disagreeThe GTR has a sporting heritage, intangibles, prestige and legacy as well. @ syjYou and I are always on different ends of the spectrum, lol. I see you point though

@horsesThe GT3 may cost about $50K more than a GTR, but the racing heritage and legacy of Porsche can't be met by Nissan, not even a GT-R. Despite these cars performing nearly the same, there are some intangibles, besides "prestige," that Nissan can NEVER EVER rise to. Porsche is a sports car manufacturer per se, whereas Nissan is a jack of all trades type.